DOJ: Former ‘Insurance Agent of the Year’ sentenced to prison for bank fraud

Written by: A. Smith

Published November 21, 2025 @ 7:51 AM ET

HOUSTON COUNTY, Ga. – A former Warner Robins insurance agency owner has been sentenced to federal prison after prosecutors say he diverted more than $220,000 in customer premium payments to boost his standing within the company and secure repeated “Insurance Agent of the Year” awards.

Jeremy Lasseter, 44, the former owner of an Alfa Insurance Agency group, was sentenced Wednesday to 27 months in federal prison after pleading guilty in August to one count of bank fraud, according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Georgia. Lasseter was also ordered to pay $221,515 in restitution to the victim whose payments he misappropriated.

Prosecutors said Lasseter won Alfa’s Georgia “Insurance Agent of the Year” award for four consecutive years. The award came with “other perks and status,” according to the FBI.

Federal investigators said the scheme began in March 2020, when Lasseter instructed one of his customers to make premium payments directly to him rather than Alfa Insurance, sometimes telling her to write checks payable to him or provide cash, claiming it would be better for tax purposes. Instead of applying those payments to her policies, prosecutors said Lasseter used the money to cover premium payments for other customers without her knowledge or consent.

In total, the victim paid $221,515 that was never applied to her policies, court records show.

The FBI investigated and said Lasseter redirected the funds to inflate his performance numbers and help him secure the “Insurance Agent of the Year” award year after year.

“Lasseter’s actions undermined the integrity of the insurance industry, and his deliberate scheme to redirect premium payments for his own gain is a clear violation of the law and a betrayal of the victim’s trust,” Paul Brown, special agent in charge of FBI Atlanta, said in a statement. “The FBI remains committed to holding individuals accountable who exploit others for personal benefit.”

Lasseter will serve his sentence in federal prison, followed by supervised release. There is no parole in the federal system.